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Virtual taekwondo is on the rise as it makes its debut at Asian Games
Athletes and coaches say the noncontact sport is drawing younger competitors and older fighters as it expands with national programs and coaching courses.
- Virtual taekwondo will debut at the Asian Games in Japan this year, marking the sport's transition from experimental discipline to structured competitive event across Southeast Asia.
- Co-Developed by World Taekwondo and Refract Technologies, the sport uses VR headsets and motion-tracking sensors to let competitors control digital avatars through physically demanding noncontact martial arts techniques.
- Malaysian coach Henry Lee scouts for players with 'game sense'—the ability to read movement and make split-second decisions inside the virtual arena where success depends on stamina and speed.
- Unlike conventional sparring, the virtual format removes age, gender, and weight barriers, allowing athletes of all ages to 'compete safely' on equal footing, according to athlete Raja Mardiah Idris.
- The sport is expected to be included in the 2027 Southeast Asian Games, while national programs and coaching certifications are now in place to support growing interest across the region.
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Associated Press News+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
Virtual taekwondo is on the rise as it makes its debut at Asian Games
Virtual taekwondo is gaining popularity as a structured competitive discipline in Southeast Asia. Co-developed by World Taekwondo and Refract Technologies, the sport combines VR technology with traditional techniques to woo tech-savvy young players.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left6Leaning Right0Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
L 35%
C 65%
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